This is a different species of Cordyceps than we use in Chinese medicine, but you get the idea! / Image courtesy of wikimedia commons Happy Halloween! I love Chinese herbs, and today I'm going to tell you about one of our SPOOKIER herbs!
In Chinese medicine, we have an herb called Dong Chong Xia Cao - Cordyceps sinensis. This particular mushroom is an Entomopathenogenic fungus, which means that it lives on (and eventually kills) a specific species of caterpillar. Other species of Cordyceps live on different types of insects.
What I find absolutely fascinating about the Cordyceps mushrooms is that in some species, it has been found that the host insect begins to change its behavior to better suit the mushroom! These mushrooms are changing the behavior of the insect! Isn't that amazing, from a biological standpoint? A mind-controlling mushroom!
In Chinese medicine, we use Cordyceps to build up our energetic reserves. If you've been deeply exhausted for a long time, Cordyceps might be a great fit for you! (As always, please speak with a certified herbalist before taking any herbs! Remember, an herb that isn't the right fit for your Chinese medical diagnosis will cause side effects!)
But don't be worried about the mushroom zombifying YOUR brain. When you eat this mushroom it's just like eating any other (edible) mushroom. The benefit is that this mushroom can boost your Qi, kind of like bringing you back from the dead!
In Chinese medicine, we have an herb called Dong Chong Xia Cao - Cordyceps sinensis. This particular mushroom is an Entomopathenogenic fungus, which means that it lives on (and eventually kills) a specific species of caterpillar. Other species of Cordyceps live on different types of insects.
What I find absolutely fascinating about the Cordyceps mushrooms is that in some species, it has been found that the host insect begins to change its behavior to better suit the mushroom! These mushrooms are changing the behavior of the insect! Isn't that amazing, from a biological standpoint? A mind-controlling mushroom!
In Chinese medicine, we use Cordyceps to build up our energetic reserves. If you've been deeply exhausted for a long time, Cordyceps might be a great fit for you! (As always, please speak with a certified herbalist before taking any herbs! Remember, an herb that isn't the right fit for your Chinese medical diagnosis will cause side effects!)
But don't be worried about the mushroom zombifying YOUR brain. When you eat this mushroom it's just like eating any other (edible) mushroom. The benefit is that this mushroom can boost your Qi, kind of like bringing you back from the dead!